Cachiyacuy

Kak-e-ya-cu-e.
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Claire Morris

Marine Paleontologist

Claire Morris has dedicated her career to exploring the depths of prehistoric oceans. Her fascination with ancient marine life has led her to discover significant fossils that illuminate the evolution of early sea creatures.

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Name

Cachiyacuy ‭(‬Cachiyacu cuy‭ ‬/‭ ‬Cachiyacu guinea pig‭)‬.

Phonetic

Kak-e-ya-cu-e.

Named By

Pierre-Olivier Antoine,‭ ‬Laurent Marivaux,‭ ‬Darin A.‭ ‬Croft,‭ ‬Guillaume Billet,‭ ‬Morgan Ganer�d,‭ ‬Carlos Jaramillo,‭ ‬Thomas Martin,‭ ‬Ma�va J.‭ ‬Orliac,‭ ‬Julia Tejada,‭ ‬Ali J.‭ ‬Altamirano,‭ ‬Francis Duranthon,‭ ‬Gr�gory Fanjat,‭ ‬Sonia Rousse‭ & ‬Rodolfo Salas Gismondi‭ ‬-‭ ‬2012.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Mammalia,‭ ‬Rodentia,‭ ‬Hystricomorpha,‭ ‬Hystricognathi,‭ ‬Caviomorpha.

Diet

Herbivore‭?

Species

C.‭ ‬contamanensis‭

Size

Uncertain.

Known locations

Peru,‭ ‬Loreto‭ ‬-‭ ‬Yahuarango Formation.

Time Period

Late Lutetian of the Eocene.

Fossil representation

Mostly teeth.

In Depth

       Cachiyacuy is recognised as one of the earliest known occurrences of the Caviomorpha,‭ ‬a group of rodent mammals that is best known today for including chinchillas and guinea pigs.‭ ‬Another caviomorph from‭ ‬the same Formation as well as being named in the same year as Cachiyacuy is Canaanimys.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬Middle Eocene rodents from Peruvian Amazonia reveal the pattern and timing of caviomorph origins and biogeography‭ ‬-‭ ‬Proceedings of the Royal Society B‭ ‬279‭ (‬1732‭)‬:‭ ‬1319‭–‬1326‭ ‬-‭ ‬Pierre-Olivier Antoine,‭ ‬Laurent Marivaux,‭ ‬Darin A.‭ ‬Croft,‭ ‬Guillaume Billet,‭ ‬Morgan Ganer�d,‭ ‬Carlos Jaramillo,‭ ‬Thomas Martin,‭ ‬Ma�va J.‭ ‬Orliac,‭ ‬Julia Tejada,‭ ‬Ali J.‭ ‬Altamirano,‭ ‬Francis Duranthon,‭ ‬Gr�gory Fanjat,‭ ‬Sonia Rousse‭ & ‬Rodolfo Salas Gismondi‭ ‬-‭ ‬2012.

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